Who Are the Squaxin Island?
The Squaxin Island Tribe has approximately 1,100 enrolled members, headquartered near Shelton, Washington. The tribe represents descendants of seven bands: Noo-Seh-Chatl, Steh-Chass, Squi-Aitl, T'Peeksin, Sa-Heh-Wa-Mish, Squawksin, and S'Hotle-Ma-Mish—peoples of the seven inlets of South Puget Sound. They speak Lushootseed, a Central Salish language. The 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty (the first treaty in Washington Territory) established their small reservation on Squaxin Island. The tribe's identity centers on the saltwater: "People of the Water" reflects their shellfish-centered culture.
Seven Inlets Culture
The seven bands of the Squaxin Island Tribe each occupied a distinct inlet of South Puget Sound—protected waterways rich in shellfish, salmon, and marine resources. This geography shaped a maritime culture centered on canoe travel and harvest of the Sound's bounty. Shellfish—clams, oysters, geoduck—were especially important. The inlets' protected waters provided year-round resources unlike the seasonal salmon runs that dominated other peoples' economies. This abundance supported permanent villages and complex social organization characteristic of Coast Salish peoples.
Shellfish and Treaty Rights
Treaty rights to shellfish have been central to modern Squaxin Island legal struggles. The Boldt Decision (1974) addressed salmon; the Rafeedie Decision (1994) extended treaty rights to shellfish, affirming tribal rights to half the shellfish harvest. This decision transformed tribal economics, particularly regarding geoduck—a giant clam worth substantial sums in Asian markets. The tribe operates shellfish farms and participates in wild harvest management. Environmental protection of Puget Sound tidelands directly affects tribal livelihood and culture.
Contemporary Squaxin Island
Modern Squaxin Island has built diverse enterprises. Little Creek Casino and Hotel generates gaming revenue. The tribe operates the Northwest Native Expressions gallery and Taylor Shellfish cooperation. The Squaxin Island Museum Library Research Center preserves artifacts and documents. Language programs work to revitalize Lushootseed. Environmental programs protect water quality in the seven inlets. The tribe has expanded beyond the original island reservation, acquiring mainland properties. How the People of the Water balance traditional shellfish culture with modern economic development shapes this seven-inlet nation's sustainable future.
References
- Boxberger, D. L. (1989). To Fish in Common: The Ethnohistory of Lummi Indian Salmon Fishing
- Harmon, A. (1998). Indians in the Making: Ethnic Relations and Indian Identities around Puget Sound
- U.S. v. Washington (Rafeedie Decision). (1994). Shellfish Case